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Education Minister Norma Foley told Cabinet colleagues tonight that keeping schools open would not be without challenges, but she did not express doubts about being able to do so.
After the cabinet meeting, he reaffirmed his commitment to support schools to maintain safe operation following the government’s decision to move to Level 5 restrictions.
Later, Ms. Foley spoke with the teacher union leaders to offer them reassurance and express her willingness to engage with them about the concerns they have.
Officials from the Department of Education and Public Health will report tomorrow to teacher leaders and others interested in education about the public health councils that underpin the decision to keep schools open.
In a statement after tonight’s cabinet meeting. Ms. Foley said that “an important factor in deciding to move to Level 5 is that by doing so, we can help our schools continue to operate safely and sustainably during the pandemic.
“The decision recognizes the overwhelming evidence from our public health experts that schools are a safe environment for our school communities, children and staff members.
Schools are closed on Friday for the mid-term break, Mrs. Foley anticipates a return on Monday, November 2nd.
But the increase in infection in the community increases the risk for schools and when they reopen, the minister said she was urging “everyone to continue to fully comply with the measures in force, knowing that we all have a real role to play in the repression of the virus “. and keep children safe in school. “
Ms Foley said that the school communities had put a lot of effort and energy to reopen safely in the first half of the period and had been supported by a significant investment to support all of the infection prevention and control measures recommended by the schools. public health authorities.
She said the schools were doing their part and working hard to stay safe and “need support from all of us.”
The minister said that Nphet had reviewed the national experience of reopening schools to date, including epidemiological data and information gathered through case and outbreak management.
“Having considered this evidence, Nphet has recommended that schools remain open during Level 5 restrictions, even in the current trajectory of the disease.”
To date, the latest public health data shows that 10,513 students and teachers have participated in massive testing. This has led to the detection of 246 additional cases.
This equates to a 2% positive detection rate for additional cases detected, compared to a rate of more than 7% in the general community.
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